Food & Drink Matters Issue 173

HEAVENLY BAKING COFFEE SHOP & TEA ROOMS

Homemade Cakes, Biscuits & Sweet treats @coffeeshop in Walsall & the home of the Sweet Scotch Egg Co Opening Times

Monday-Friday: 9am-4pm

Saturday: 9am-5pm

Sunday: 10am-4pm Serving Breakfast Lunch & Drinks

Please visit www.heavenlybaking.co.uk

Telephone 01922 929691

Email zoe@heavenlybaking.co.uk

Leading the way in Table Numbers & QR Code Labels for the Hospitality Industry

Brunel Engraving leads the UK hospitality industry with its premium table numbers and QR code labels, meeting the evolving needs of the hospitality sector through excellence and innovation.

Our cutting-edge solutions seamlessly integrate technology, enhancing dining experiences for both establishments and patrons. Businesses benefit from streamlined operations and increased customer satisfaction, as guests access menus and promotions effortlessly. Quality is paramount, evident in our ISO9001 accreditation and stellar Trustpilot ratings.

engraving, chemical etching, and various printing methods to meet every client’s unique needs. From large chains to local businesses, our products are installed across the UK.

Contact us today to learn how our solutions can transform your establishment's operations and elevate your guest experience.

We offer a comprehensive range of printing and engraving techniques, including laser

T 01275 871720

info@brunelengraving.co.uk

www.brunelengraving.co.uk

Peppadew® range of peppers

The Peppadew® range of red and yellow Sweet Piquanté Peppers, Jalapeño halves, Jalapeño slices and the newly launched Peppadrops® are all versatile ingredients that can elevate vegan and vegetarian menu dish to new heights.

For professional chefs, Peppadew® range of peppers provide a convenient solution for adding depth and complexity to dishes without compromising on time or effort. Their vibrant colours and unique taste profile allow chefs to experiment with bold flavours, creating visually stunning and flavourful vegan and vegetarian plates that cater to discerning palates.

Similarly, for home cooks, Peppadew® range of peppers offer endless opportunities to infuse everyday meals with excitement and creativity. From simple appetisers like cheese filled Peppadew® peppers to heartier dishes such as vegan stir-fries or vegetablebased tacos, these peppers serve as a versatile ingredient that effortlessly elevates the taste of any dish.

Moreover, Peppadew® peppers are not only flavourful but also nutritious,

providing essential vitamins and antioxidants. Their inclusion in vegan and vegetarian diets adds complexity and depth to meals, ensuring a satisfying and wholesome dining experience.

Whether in the hands of a professional chef or a home cook, Peppadew® Sweet Piquanté peppers, jalapeño halves, slices, and Peppadrops offer the perfect ingredients to elevate vegan and vegetarian dishes, providing a delightful fusion of taste and versatility.

T +44 (0)1372 502143 sales@peppaco.co.uk https://peppadewfoodservice.co.uk

Union Industries improves efficiency with double Eiger Door installation at Taj Foods

Union Industries, the UK’s leading manufacturer of bespoke industrial doors, has helped food importer and distributer, Taj Foods, improve efficiency through the installation of highspeed freezer doors –the Eiger Door.

Taj Foods, specialists in frozen exotic food and prepared meals, was established in 1980 and recently expanded its cold storage at its Sheffield warehouse to meet growing demand. The project undertaken by EJM refrigeration, involved improving its energy efficiency and carbon footprint with the installation of a new CO2 refrigeration system.

The two Eiger Doors will enhance operational efficiency in the high-demand environment and will maintain consistent freezer temperatures, while ensuring unimpeded access to cold stores.

Since its launch in 2002, the Eiger Door has been installed as a fast-access traffic door at major food retailers, 3PL cold storage and distribution, and frozen food manufacturers across the UK.

H-Pack celebrates great British chippy with launch of ‘Great Taste’ range of products

Europe’s packaging one-stop shop, H-Pack Packaging, has launched a line of products exclusive to fish and chip shops which it expects to appeal to high-end UK chippies that want packaging that stands out, while reflecting the quality of the food it holds.

The new ‘Great Taste’ fish ‘n’ chips packaging range includes a series of small, medium, and large, eye-catching paper boxes and small and large paper bags, with handles. The bags carry the same design as the boxes and are intended to complement those boxes, with the complete range offering an opportunity for sellers to provide a more considered, identifiable offering that appears unique to the individual food retail outlet.

Head of merchant sales for H-Pack, David Martin, explains, “Higher ingredients costs and facilities charges have impacted on the price of takeaway meals. The ‘Great Taste’ range enables chip shop owners, who may not have the means to market their products or to create a brand, to maximise their food offering with packaging that stands out and elevates the overall appearance of the meal provided.

“There’s no great price difference between ‘Great Taste’ bags and boxes and those of the plain brown or white variety but the range makes any offering look higher value. Given that, we’d say to any chippy owner, the ‘Great Taste’ range must be one to try.”

H-Pack is the UK arm of leading, global food packaging brand, Hotpack and, as such, can offer bespoke custom products, working with pioneering new materials and state of the art machinery and technology, along with its internationally recognised, premium lines.

To order from H-Pack’s fish and chip packaging range, email: sales@h-packglobal.com.

For further information and for details on the products H-Pack manufactures and supplies, please visit: https://h-packglobal.com or call: +44 (0)1978 855595.

Coca-Cola HBC reaffirms its sustainability leadership

For the seventh time, Coca-Cola HBC has been confirmed as the world’s most sustainable beverage company by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI)

In 2024, Coca-Cola HBC has the highest scores and rankings in ten of the mostrecognised ESG ratings.

The Eiger Door ensures that consistent temperatures can be maintained and features an innovative dehumidification system, which prevents snow and ice build-up on the door blade and frame. This feature tackles a consistent issue plaguing other door types, as the freezer encounters humid ambient air entering the cold store.

Minimising downtime is also supported by the Eiger Door’s robust construction and its tried and tested crash-out and reset system. Due to the modest difference in size between Forklift Trucks and the door opening, as well as the busy nature of this freezer, this is of particular benefit at this depot when considering the longterm reliability of the Eiger Door.

T +44 (0)113

244 8393

enquiries@unionindustries.co.uk

www.unionindustries.co.uk

The growthfocused consumer packaged goods business and strategic bottling partner of The CocaCola Company is a FTSE100 company headquartered in Zug in Switzerland.

Coca-Cola HBC believes its success is based on a clear and ambitious sustainability strategy that focuses on climate, packaging, water, ingredients, nutrition, people and communities, and biodiversity.

The DJSI – issued by S&P Global –are one of the world’s leading global sustainability benchmarks. In February 2024, The S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2024 confirmed the company’s number one global ranking in the beverage industry. The company’s score positions it in the top 1% of 9,400 companies across 62 industries.

Coca-Cola HBC is also on the CDP’s A List for its commitment to transparency

on climate and water. It joins the small number of companies that have achieved a double-A rating from CDP.

CEO Zoran Bogdanovic (pictured) says, “These achievements are the result of our clear vision and targets in sustainability, our bold and entrepreneurial mindset, and our strong belief that sustainability is a true creator of growth and value for the business.”

“Our continued investment in technology, innovation, partnership and willingness to try new things are also helping us carve our sustainability path.

“Together we are moving towards our sustainability goals as we continue to open up opportunities for a more sustainable future.”

Contact https://www.coca-colahellenic.com/en

A look at the rising trends of the Vegan and Vegetarian diet

It comes as no surprise that the demand for convenient vegan and vegetarian options continues to rise. From ready-made meals and frozen foods to snack items and plant-based alternatives, Food & Drink Matters expects to see more innovative plant-based brands merging to the forefront of the food and beverage industry throughout 2024 and beyond.

Understanding what’s new and trending in global consumer behaviour and the impact that it is having on the current food and drinks that we consume is pivotal to a brands success. With the current cost of living higher than ever, the vegan/vegetarian diet has at times been somewhat overlooked because of its ‘inconvenience and pricey nature.’

However, the landscape is changing and we are now seeing a plethora of vegan and vegetarian brands emerging with products designed to help consumers live longer, healthier lives whilst balancing their needs for health and pleasure.

In this issue, we feature some prolific brands whose products are not only supporting and elevating the vegan and vegetarian lifestyle but also influencing consumer behaviour to focus on health and wellness, sustainability, and zero-waste cooking.

Rival Foods is a plant-based alternatives brand that creates whole-cut specialities with remarkable texture, taste and juiciness, making it the ideal proposition for food professionals to create new plant-based eating experiences.

Living Foods for Health runs courses linked to the Balance of Naturopathic Nutrition for professional chefs, interested private small groups and individuals, through to master classes for those wanting advanced knowledge and practices.

The Multi-Award-Winning College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) stands on the shoulders of Hippocrates and runs an extensive training provision of excellent natural therapies.

Source: Rival Foods

Source: Dondoni

With a focus on clinical application and practice, students can study short courses, diplomas, degrees and post-graduate qualifications across a wide range of subjects including: Nutrition, Natural Chef, and Vegan Natural Chef.

In the last five years, vegan-based diets have increased exponentially across the UK, with an estimated 2.5 million vegans in the UK alone. By 2025, it is predicted that a quarter of Brits will be vegan. The Eve Vegan® certification offers a definitive vegan mark of recognition through its rigorous assessment procedure on products that are raw, semi-finished and finished and the entire production chain in the factory.

Saputo are manufacturers of branded vegan products including Sheese and Cathedral City – both dairy alternatives to cheese. These are versatile vegan cheeses in many flavours for the growing vegan and flexitarian markets.

It is exciting to see where this industry goes next and with the current advancements in food technology combined with environmental concerns, we could be witnessing an even larger shift in consumer eating behaviours altogether in the very near future.

We take immense pride in bringing you a taste that’s steeped in tradition yet resonates with the essence of today. Our commitment to natural harvests and preserving the true flavours of the olive ensures that every sip, drizzle, or dip of Sallaku Olive Oil is an ode to the remarkable journey that brought it to your table.

Our oil has a leafy green and fruity flavour, a hint of herbs, grassiness, artichoke, apple and almond – a beautiful, peppery taste and fragrance that makes our oil rich, smooth and delicious to be enjoyed by olive oil

Along with all the health benefits of olive oil, our oil makes dishes tasty and aromatic and is high in polyphenols.

It goes well with an elegant salad, starter dips or any dish of your choice to bring that Mediterranean feel to your table.

EVE Vegan®: Empowering vegan certification by excellence

There is no legal definition of what constitutes ‘vegan’ food labelling, which means products could potentially contain traces of animal products. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) found that one in three ‘vegan’ products contained dairy such as milk or egg. This level of false advertising is concerning for vegan consumers and raises the question of provenance and production.

The EVE Vegan® wants to bring clarity and transparency once and for all to the vegan market through its independent certification mark. The mark comprehensively assesses the true nature and conformity of vegan products and services and is internationally recognised.

Established by passionate French vegan activist, Hélène Modrzejewski in 2016, the company offers two types of labelling: product and factory certification.

In the last five years, vegan-based diets has increased exponentially across the UK, with an estimated 2.5 million vegans in the UK alone. By 2025, it is predicted that a quarter of Brits will be vegan.

This is great news for the vegan industry but it begs the question:

How do we know if vegan products are truly genuine? The Eve Vegan® certification offers a definitive vegan

mark of recognition through its rigorous assessment procedure on products that are raw, semi-finished and finished and the entire production chain in the factory.

We spoke to Guillaume Ballandras: Deputy General Manager for more information, “We build our certification service on ISO 17065 standard to carry out robust factory audits and scrutinise all documentation to attest if a product warrants the vegan certification. We are pioneers in this field. The certificate lasts for 18 months, then companies need to apply for renewal each time. We check that the recipes and ingredients have no animal origin, there is no testing on animals, that the manufacturing site compiles to our stringent standards and the processing conditions meet our auditing frameworks.”

“We have assessed over 10,000 products in over 25 countries around the world, to offer the highest standards of transparency indicators.”

If successful in obtaining the product and/or factory certification, these can be proudly displayed on products as proof of provenance and stringent testing and used in all company marketing. This creates great brand awareness and opens up larger, international markets for products.

“Our third-party verification is embedded in a systemic, robust process and only products that are 100% vegan are issued with our certification.”

“Across Europe, notably the UK, Germany and Spain,

the vegan food and drink sector is booming and there is growing demand for premium products. Due to the opaque nature of vegan food labelling, there is a degree of false advertising, beyond mere veganwashing that erroneously state that products have vegan ingredients or are 100% vegan. It trades on the goodwill of consumers and supporters of plant based food and takes advantage by monetary gains.”

“We are interested in building a long-term relationship with our customer base and in return, offer an unparalleled certification process that allows a culture of trust and transparency.”

The EVE Vegan® has already made great strides in South Korea alone, where it is the leader of vegan certification across the cosmetics industry. Over 500 brands and factories have undergone rigorous audits and file assessment.

To meet the expert team behind The EVE Vegan®, please see them at the Plant-Based World Expo Europe at London’s Excel from the 13th-14th November 2024.

T (+33) 02 34401150

contact@certification-vegan.org

https://www.eve-vegan.org

VEGAN & VEGETARIAN MATTERS

Rival foods: Delicious 100% plant-based whole-cuts

According to vegan charity Viva! – There are an estimated 2.5 million vegans in the UK, which accounts for 4.7% of the adult population. The BBC Good Food website also points to a growing rise in flexitarians, now thought to be 23% of Brits, which leaves the door wide open for innovative plant-based dishes.

Rival Foods is a hot new contender, with its unique high-quality, plant-based whole-cuts range available to chefs and food professionals. The Dutch-based innovators use a cutting-edge technology called Shear Cell® to create meatlike textures from plant-based proteins, as CCO Willem Spigt explains, “This unique production method enables the creation of whole muscle cut products from plants using mild processing. Compared to the current extrusion technology, used by almost all plant-based food companies, Rival Foods creates very thick fibrous textures that mimic the sensation of eating the animal-

based counterpart on all levels of the sensory spectrum, while using only a minimum amount of ingredients at a price competitive level compared to standard quality animal proteins.”

With no compromise on taste or texture, the result is a delicious, tender, succulent alternative to animal proteins, with the additional benefits of being highly sustainable and healthy. The result is a well-crafted range of plant-based products suitable for any fine dining or bistro establishment: chicken filet, pulled chicken and chicken satay and coming soon: tenderloin and fish steak.

In 2014, co-founder and CEO Birgit Dekkers firstly initiated research in the technological opportunities of plant-based proteins and secondly, how to form textures with them. After completing her Ph.D. project at Wageningen University in The Netherlands, Dr Dekkers joined forces with physicist and engineer CTO Ernst Breel to found the company in 2019.

Five years later, Rival Foods now has its headquarters in Amersfoort and production facility in the south of The Netherlands, allowing the Dutch company to scale-up distribution across the Netherlands, Germany, UK and France in foodservice and from 2025 in retail.

“Rival Foods is a B2B company, so we focus on producing for private or white label. Our technology allows our clients to bring back innovation to their product portfolios.”

One of the main reasons UK consumers are switching to plant-based meals is for a healthier lifestyle, which includes lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels amongst many other reasons. With this in mind, Rival foods uses only natural, non-GMO ingredients such as plant proteins, water, natural flavouring and a small bit of salt. What is more, the plant-based range from Rival Foods is quick and easy to cook, with the minimum of fuss and are delicious grilled, oven or pan-cooked.

If you love the taste of the Far East, try adding steamed, fluffy rice with a signature

oriental sauce to the chunks of marinated Chicken Satay, with optional black-eyed beans or tofu.

Pulled meat normally requires hours of slow cooking and isn’t the most practical method for a busy food service environment. That’s where the plantbased Pulled Chicken product from Rival Foods comes in. Perfect in a casserole, stew or as a mid-week treat with leafy vegetables and mash.

The last product is a hugely versatile option: plant-based Chicken Filet, equally delicious in a Caesar salad, burger bun or as part of a nutritious main course. The sky’s the limit!

With such delicious plant-based options, we wondered where Rival Foods is going next and put the question to Willem, “Currently Rival Foods is selling a range of chicken-like products to selected restaurants in The Netherlands and Germany, offering products like our marinated chicken filet, chicken blocks for skewers and pulled chicken. Rival Foods is developing products in other categories like Red Meat and Fish, such as our Fish Filet and Tenderloin and will be launching those later in the year.”

“Rival Foods believes that just as in animal-based proteins the whole cut segment will eventually make up around 50% of the plant-based meat category. To get there, consumers want delicious tasting, affordable and healthy products and that’s exactly what Rival Foods is offering their clients.”

To find out more about these delicious plant-based options for your food service sector, please see the website below: www.rival-foods.com

Multi-award-winning plant-based cheeses

The plant-based revolution is in full swing, and the numbers speak for themselves. With a staggering 2.5 million people in the UK now embracing plant-based diets, representing a robust 4.7% of the population, it’s clear that this lifestyle choice is not just a passing trend but a significant movement. This shift towards plant-based living is particularly prominent among the younger generations, Generation Z and Millennials, who are driving the change towards more sustainable and compassionate eating habits.

In tandem with this surge in plant-powered living, flexitarian diets are also on the rise, encompassing 23% of the British population according to Good Food. Motivated by factors like health, affordability, and a desire for wholesome, unprocessed foods, more and more people are embracing the flexitarian approach to eating.

Amidst this flourishing landscape, London emerges as a beacon of vegan-friendly living, boasting an impressive array of 161 fully vegan restaurants and over 350 establishments catering to plant-based diets. From tantalizing Bulgarian vegan fusion to soul-warming Afro-Caribbean vegan soul food, the capital city stands as a global epicentre for the plantbased lifestyle, offering something for every palate and preference.

At the forefront of this culinary revolution is Bute Island Foods, a Scottish powerhouse and proud member of the Saputo group, championing plantbased cheese with their acclaimed brands: Bute Island Cheese and Cathedral City Plant Based. Christopher Owen, Head of Marketing for PlantBased at Saputo, expresses his enthusiasm for the cultural shift towards plant-based eating, citing even major events like the Olympics aiming for 60% plant-based food in Paris later this year.

Sheese and Cathedral City have earned their stripes as multi-award-winning pioneers in the plant-based market, captivating taste buds and winning hearts with their innovative creations. For discerning connoisseurs, the Sheese range from Bute Island offers an unrivalled selection of delectable delights, including the award-winning Melting Sheesy Bake: Jalapeño and Chilli product, honoured at The Grocer New Product & Packaging Awards 2023. Partnering creatively with customers, Sheese continues to push boundaries, supplying vegan cheese for iconic brands like Papa John’s, Kettle Crisps, and GÜ plant-based puddings.

As Christopher Owen elaborates, “Sheese is gearing up for an exciting relaunch this summer, collaborating closely with retail and foodservice partners to bring even more innovative and mouthwatering options to consumers. With a

mission to normalise plant-based dishes and integrate them seamlessly into mainstream diets, Sheese is perfectly aligned with the growing trend towards flexitarian and vegan lifestyles in the UK.”

Meanwhile, Cathedral City offers consumers a familiar yet enticing entry point into the world of plant-based cheese. Launched in October 2022, it swiftly clinched the prestigious Gold at the Free From Awards and has since ascended to become the second-largest plant-based cheese on the market. With offerings like Plant Based Mature Block, Plant Based Extra Mature Block, Plant Based Sandwich Slices, and Plant Based Cheddar flavoured spread, Cathedral City caters to a diverse range of tastes and preferences, earning rave reviews from satisfied customers who hail it as the ‘best vegan cheese ever tasted.’

In conclusion, the plant-based cheese revolution is in full swing, and with brands like Sheese and Cathedral City leading the charge, the future of plant-powered living looks brighter and more delicious than ever before.

Can’t wait to try these award-winning ranges?

The Sheese and Cathedral City brands will be coming to a host of customer-facing food events over the year including:

Casual Dining 2024: 18th-19th September, ExCeL London (Stand 671)

Food & Drink Expo (Plant Based Zone) 29th April-1st May 2024, NEC, Birmingham.

For more information on Sheese and Cathedral City, please see the websites below:

https://www.buteisland.com/en

https://www.cathedralcity.co.uk/en/our-cheese/ plant-based

‘Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food’

Back in the 1950’s, Ann Wigmore healed herself from stage 4 colon cancer through the illuminating, healing power of living foods. This miraculous transformation was due to a steadfast commitment to wheatgrass juice, living sprouts and raw foods.

In 1956, inspired by the holistic Living Foods lifestyle of Ann Wigmore and another compelling thinker: Viktoras Kulvinskas, the Hippocrates Health Institute in Florida (now called’ Hippocrates Wellness’) was founded by Brian and Anna Maria Clement.

For nearly seventy years, Hippocrates Health Institute have attracted many guests, and students, who wish to heal themselves and learn more of cleansing and nourishing the body.

It is here where founder of Living Foods for Health, Jill Swyers was able to ‘heal herself’ from multiple health issues, such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Raynaud’s syndrome. Jill is transparent about her previous ‘food addiction’ which led to her being overweight and lacking in energy and uses it as spring board for her training programmes.

After conducting her own research, Jill started taking Aloe Vera and wheatgrass juice for energising characteristics, alongside food combining for sustained weight loss and optimised digestion. For the first time in her life, Jill was able to maintain weight loss and had optimal energy. This inspired her to train as a Hippocrates Health Educator at the Institute, where she still teaches from

time to time and started her own company: Living Foods for Health in 1998: To Become a Healthier You.

“My workshops attract people from all walks of life, including those with a cancer diagnosis. I have a flexible approach to my workshop facilitating and host workshops at my premises but will also travel to business locations or residential homes. The two-day workshops are ideal for a small group to receive a practical demonstration, with plenty of time for questions.”

“Each group will have a vegan meal and juices, all inspired by the philosophy from the Hippocrates Health Institute. This includes sprouting, vegetable juice preparation and tried and tested techniques for dehydrated foods. With the courses run from my premises, I use a dehydrator and make delicious homemade hummus using Brussel sprouts, which is often a favourite on the course!” explained Jill.

Jill herself has been vegan for many years but noted that when she gave up meat in the first instance, she was ‘less angry and more patient.’ It was with this self-insight that Jill slowly moved towards a vegan diet, finding it lighter in the process.

“Not all vegan lifestyles are inherently healthy though, for some it is a fad and diligence isn’t paid to nutritional foods. For example, protein and carbohydrates shouldn’t be mixed, and it is always best to use organic, seasonal vegetables. When you give up meat, fish or dairy, you need to consider if you are replacing that with optimised foods, such as raw and uncooked foods,” added Jill.

Advocating Farmers’ Markets, especially organic producers, Jill makes sure that she either buys local to support local businesses or her own home-grown micro-greens such as sunflower greens, pea greens, wheatgrass, mung beans and lentils (mini-sprouts). For Jill, organic food is best as the pesticides used otherwise causes substantial damage to immune systems over the long-term.

“Food can heal, I have seen huge transformations in my lifetime, where people with debilitating illnesses can heal themselves and go onto live lives, rich with energy and stamina.”

“We all have interesting relationships with food, I can trace my food addiction back to childhood, where food became a ‘crutch,’ a form of comfort. We live in a world that seems to encourage addiction, from food, alcohol to cigarettes. Once we disentangle ourselves from this addiction, we can understand more fully our relationship with food and treat our body more like a temple.”

Living Foods for Health runs courses linked to the Balance of Naturopathic Nutrition for professional chefs, interested private small groups and individuals, through to master classes for those wanting advanced knowledge and practices.

To start your journey today towards optimised health through the preparation of living foods, contact Jill Swyers below: T +44 (0)7768 081376 info@jillswyers.com https://www.jillswyers.com

The rise and celebration of the UK vegan-based diet

London is the number one vegan-friendly city in the world, according to vegan food app Happy Cow and has topped the list for the last four years, in line with the capital’s embrace of the vegan-based diet. Central London is flying the flag for veganism with 350 fully-vegan establishments and remains a global trendsetter in the diversity of plant-based offerings

With an abundance of frozen and processed vegan food now available in all major supermarkets, it seems that the veganbased diet is here to stay. However, there is a growing demand from restaurants and customers, for chefs to cook more vegan food from scratch. This is where the CNM Vegan Natural Chef Course comes in.

The CNM Vegan Natural Chef Course

The multi-award-winning College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) was featured in the March issue of Food & Drinks Matters and we were so impressed, that we wanted to find out more about their exciting vegan cooking course that has taken the nation by storm.

The diploma is designed as a three-part course, helping all students, from complete beginners to existing chefs to discover how to become a successful vegan chef. With 520 hours of cuttingedge theory and practical lessons and 100 hours internship in real-life kitchens, this nine-month diploma has been designed for students to become plant-based vegan chefs from all walks of life. It is offered as an in-person course and online for international students.

The diploma first started in 2017 and has helped supply the UK with next-generational vegan chefs, to meet the growing demand for premium veganbased cuisine cooked from scratch, using only the finest, organic, seasonal ingredients.

Meet Sharon Gardner: Passionate lecturer and plant-based Hackney chef Sharon is an inspiring lecturer, full of passion and drive for her CNM teaching role. Starting in 2020, she began teaching the vegan diploma theory module online during the pandemic and has now moved to teaching the London in-person classes from Friday to Sunday. We found a gap in her busy schedule and caught up with her to find out more, “We have huge demand for our vegan diploma courses and what’s really amazing is that our students aren’t just London-based but travel from Kent, Bristol, Bournemouth and even further afield. Such is the powerful reputation of CNM that there really is nothing else on offer in many major cities across the UK.”

“We have two course intakes per year, in February or September and have a real mix of established chefs, looking to learn more about vegan food and complete beginners. What makes our course rich and exciting, other than the course content is the truly diverse nature of our students. We attract many students with dual-heritage or second

or third generational backgrounds and they bring rich stories of vegan cuisine from around the world.”

Made in Hackney: The plant-based community cookery school Made in Hackney is a charity with a difference: everything is plant-based. Hackney usually makes the headlines for its social inequality, with almost half of the borough’s (43.4%) children living in poverty after housing costs, making it the worst performing in North London. Established in 2012, the school pledges to drive positive change in the community, with nutritious, plant-based food at the heart of it.

Sharon has taught classes for Made in Hackney on many occasions, teaching plant-based lesson with a variety of participants including local school children inviting students on the CNM Vegan Natural Chef Diploma Course to carry out their 100 hours internship at the charity.

“Our students love the energy and vibrancy of the project, and knowing that it supports the local Hackney community in so many ways is powerful on many levels.”

“We recently had a class of local 10/11 year old in the Made in Hackney kitchen and they were amazed at the vegan burritos and cookies we made in class. Making cooking fun and inclusive, brings whole generations together.”

What does the CNM Vegan Natural Chef Diploma Course cover?

The diploma covers how to become a successful vegan chef, understanding how the body systems work and to build a vegan chef career after the course. Students will learn to cook healthy, nutritious plant-based meals from scratch, and the importance of using locally-sourced organic produce.

With a vegan-based diet now known to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, help the gut flora, be heart-healthy, support healthy blood sugar control, reduce the risk of developing cancers, through to its anti-inflammatory properties and supporting healthy skin and hair, many people are adopting vegan-based diets to control chronic fatigue, weight issues through to eczema and IBS.

“Many of our students want to find out more about the link between vegan food and reducing or eliminating many ailments or illnesses but also how it plays a role in preventative health.”

Why study at CNM?

The multi-award-running college has won the prestigious IHCAN Education Award for Best College consecutively over a three-year period from 2021 to 2023.

That’s not all.

“A total of 80% of CNM graduates are working as chefs, working in retreats, restaurants, teaching, recipe writers or bloggers and it is wonderful to hear of all their success stories.”

“Our students are encouraged to design meals for real-life scenarios. We advise our students to keep a note book, jotting down ideas for recipes and developing a trial and error approach to vegan cooking in their own time. We want our students

to not only leave with a qualification under their belt but a zest and passion for vegan cooking, often with an international twist.”

What’s next?

The world is changing. In 2020, all top ten UK restaurants/food-to-go outlets had at least one plant-based choice and in 2022, 58% of British adults enjoyed at least one plant-based dish in their diet, according to The Vegan Society.

With an estimated 2.5 million vegans across the UK and a growing number of flexitarians (23% of Brits). The growing vegan-based diet is definitely here to stay.

To find out more or to book onto The CNM Vegan Natural Chef Diploma Course today, please see the link below: www.naturalchef.com/ vegan-natural-chef-diploma-course

Fantastic business done at The Source Trade Show 2024

The 2024 Source Trade Show took place on the 6th-7th February 2024 and provided the perfect mix of passionate producers, alongside the hottest hospitality and catering companies, and the freshest food service.

This trade only event was dedicated to those with a serious interest in speciality foods, quality drinks, profitable catering and inspired hospitality. The Source is the South West’s biggest and best show of its kind for good reason. No other event serves up such a rewarding and valuable mix of comparative tastings, innovative ideas, networking opportunities and inspirational experiences. The event gifted exhibitors the ideal platform to showcase their products and innovations as they gear up for the season ahead.

The Demo Kitchen proved very popular and was a great way to draw inspiration and ideas on the latest trending foods and cuisines that could be the next best thing added to your menus. Leading chefs showed off their skills as well as share ideas on how to add value to your business. Visitors lavished in the fact that they could take full advantage of their expertise and knowledge

and apply it to their business. Alongside the Source Trade Show ran the Westcountry Tourism Conference, with two half day events bringing together leading tourism businesses and industry experts.

The best thing about this show is the variety of exhibitors and the way it champions local producers as well as large corporations allowing both to share the same space of accessing a wider audience that could lead to greater sales. We have selected some of our Top Exhibitors from the show whose products positively contribute towards the growth of the food and beverage industry. These include: 79 North, supplying some of the very best Hotels, Restaurants & Independent Wine Stores throughout the UK with Portuguese wine direct from the vine. All’s Fair Ltd t/a Some Like It Hot. Shop, creators of the UK’s widest range of chilli sauce. Baked to Taste, whether you are looking for a delicious pie, a wickedly tasty pasty, an awesome sausage roll or an indulgent chocolate brownie, then you’re in the right place but guess what…ALL products are 100% gluten-free and wheat-free!

Denhay Farms, producers of award winning dry cured bacon using only RSPCA Assured, British outdoor bred pigs. Franke Coffee Systems, a division of Franke Group, a technology and solution provider of professional coffee machines. Georgie Porgies Puddings, gorgeously tasting handmade desserts using only the finest ingredients. HS French Flint, the glass bottle and jar specialists –Supplying quality and innovative containers to specialist and artisan food and drink producers with products including storage jars, food jars, bottles, caps & corks, swing-stopper bottles, growlers & tapped bottles.

Heritage Cider, producers of multi-award-winning craft cider grown in orchards yielding the finest Somerset fruit. Luscombe Drinks, winners of over 110 Great Taste Award stars from the Guild of Fine Food: Luscombe is passionate about making premium soft drinks. No More Lids, sustainable creators of the 100% plastic free hot and cold drinks cup with integrated folding lid.

Southwest Coffee Company, suppliers of wholesale coffee and coffee machines to businesses across Devon, Cornwall & the South West. The Proper Marmalade Company, winners of 10 World, Great Taste and Regional Gold awards and creators of Proper Marmalade handmade in Devon using fresh fruit. The Wiltshire Distillery Company, producers of the finest English whiskies using the very best ingredients from the crops growing on the prime chalk downlands that surround Fonthill Estate, mixed with Fonthill’s pure water, naturally filtered through limestone rock on its journey to the bottle.

The Source Trade Show 2025 will take place on the 4th-5th February 2025 at Westpoint, Exeter.

For more information, please see below: https://thesourcetradeshow.co.uk

The Dartmoor Ice Cream Company: Artisan Ice Cream beautifully made in Devon

The Dartmoor Ice Cream Company makes artisan ice creams and sorbets. Started by two lasses from Devon, who care a lot about ice cream, the company has grown steadily over 5 years and is about to expand their operations once again.

Using authentic ingredients, they constantly strive for the highest quality in both taste and texture; their aim is to create ice creams as rich and luscious as those they were making at home. With that in mind, they make many of the chunks and sauces themselves. Their ice creams have consistently won awards at Taste of the West and Food Drink Devon. They are particularly proud of their sorbets which are packed

Award winning Dry Cured Bacon direct to your kitchen

Denhay have been crafting bacon for over 30 years, developing the Denhay method and refining their special cure.

All Denhay’s Dry Cured and Wiltshire Cure bacon is created using the finest outdoor bred pork. Expert bacon curers hand rub each loin and belly carefully applying the cure before slowly maturing, to draw out the bacon’s exquisite flavour. After smoking and slicing the bacon is packed in special recyclable packaging to keep it fresh to the moment of opening.

Denhay are holders of a Royal Warrant from HRH Prince of Wales, the highest of accolades, and the business has won over 100 awards for taste and quality. Denhay bacon has been a consistent winner of Great Taste Awards – and recently won Taste of the West Champion Bacon 2023, reinforcing the West Country’s reputation for producing fine quality foods.

All 5 Bacon variants are available for delivery in 1kg packs, and with venues such as Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons amongst its existing customers, there’s good reason to take your bacon to the next level.

If you’d like to discuss your bacon requirements, please email: chrisl@denhay.co.uk.

https://www.denhay.co.uk

Highest distinction: Franke Mytico wins IF DESIGN AWARD 2024 Gold

The low height of the Mytico allows the staff to give their full attention to the guests

Having a cup of coffee away from home should be a memorable and enjoyable experienceyet the shortage of skilled staff in the industry has become a concern. Thus, it is a challenge for many businesses to consistently satisfy their customers’ demand for high-quality coffee experiences.

Franke has responded to these challenges with a new product category – BeyondTraditional.

The new machine Mytico was launched at HRC in London a few days ago.

The pioneering new coffee line is equipped with advanced technology that produces consistent, barista-grade coffee, while enhancing any location with its unique Italian design. Mytico’s ease of use and reduced height give room for the barista to converse with the customer while easily producing the perfect beverage – all without having to sacrifice any part of the well-known, much-loved barista theatre. This creates the unforgettable coffee moment that keeps customers coming back for more.

There will be another opportunity to experience the Mytico Line at Frankes new showroom opening on the 29th April 2024.

If you would like to learn more about BeyondTraditional and Mytico, call: 01923 635700, email: cs-sales.gb@franke.com or visit: coffee.franke.com

They are always looking for new ideas to improve their range and can now offer two delicious vegan options: Vegan Vanilla and Vegan Chocolate, both of which have been very well received.

They have built capacity over the last few years and are now expanding their current distribution within Devon to hospitality and retail in Dorset. Somerset and Cornwall. If you are interested in a visit from their sales team, please contact Carol on: carol.bache@dartmooricecream.uk.

https://www.dartmooricecream.uk

Heritage and Taunton Cider: From orchard to bottle

Heritage Cider was at the Source Trade Show from 6th-7th February 2024 at Westpoint Exeter. It is the South West’s largest food and hospitality event and brings together the best food and beverage companies from across the industry.

The Somerset-based company showcased its legendary, premium Taunton Cider, lovingly made using the best heritage varieties of English bittersweet and bitter sharp orchard apples. By using local Somerset fruit, Heritage Cider is supporting regional farmers and the local economy. The cider is made in a traditional way, harking back centuries, resulting in a base cider unhurried by fermentation. This allows expert cidermakers to blend the cider into different, winning flavours.

The Taunton Cider brand has been a successful household name since the 1980’s, with its illustrious roots stretching back to the early 1800’s. In 2023, the brand, including orchards and recipes was bought by Heritage Cider and now benefits from a larger warehouse facility, with increased pressing and storage, so now more people can enjoy a cold pressed cider any day of the week.

Heritage Cider prides itself on offering multi-awardwinning craft cider from orchard apples that have provided the distinctive taste of Taunton Cider for generations.

The collection of craft cider includes Taunton Vintage Cider, Taunton Ultra Dry Cider, Taunton Medium Cider, Taunton English Berry Cider and the all-new alcohol-free Taunton Zero Cider.

For more information, please see the website below: https://www.heritagecider.shop/home

with fruit. Their Raspberry Sorbet winning a coveted platinum award with Food Drink Devon.

EXCELLENCE

Luscombe, elevating every experience since 1975

At Luscombe, we are passionate about making premium soft drinks. We put taste at the centre of everything we do and are dedicated to using only the best, hand selected, organic ingredients from trusted growers worldwide and produce our drinks in Buckfastleigh, Devon.

Founded in 1975 by Julian David and subsequently taken over by his son, Gabriel, when he returned from living in Sicily where he learnt his craft in soft drinks production. Gabriel has spent decades finding and building relationships with our partner growers, from the finest ginger in Peru to delicious raspberries from Bulgaria. Our partners share our production values and always go the extra mile to ensure the fruit is grown and harvested to preserve and encourage the optimum taste experience.

In 1998, we were awarded organic accreditation from the Soil Association, the first drinks brand in the UK to gain this highly regarded certification. On the farm in Devon, we have our own organic orchard and in 2018, we became deeply involved in an agroforestry partnership on the Dartington Hall Estate. This is where we planted our first organically certified elderflower plantation. Every step from sourcing, harvesting, juicing, blending, and bottling receives our undivided attention.

With a Royal Warrant in hand, over 110 Great Taste Award stars from the Guild of Fine Food and an abundance of positive customer reviews, we know you’ll love them.

info@luscombe.co.uk

https://luscombe.co.uk

Introducing England’s youngest whisky distillery

Set in the heart of southwest Wiltshire in the historic village of Fonthill Bishop, the beautiful 9,000 acre Fonthill Estate provides us with the ideal surroundings to make the finest English whiskies, gin and vodka.

The distillery building is a Grade 2 listed barn dating back to the 1600’s. Beside it, a magnificent grain drying barn houses our visitor centre and shop.

Underpinning the provenance and quality of Witchmark spirits is an unassailable grain-to-glass story. The barley is grown in the surrounding fields with the pure water used for production coming from a large chalk aquifer right under our feet. Indeed, the same water that is used to grow the barley is used to produce the beer wash that is distilled to become whisky.

Coupled with stills from Frilli, chosen for their excellent heat recovery technology, and with BCorp certification underway, sustainability is genuinely at the heart of all Witchmark operations.

Almost uniquely for a British company, we will be producing our own neutral grain spirit, further enhancing the authenticity behind the Witchmark brand story.

As we approach our official launch, we have opened applications for The Witchmark Club, enabling members to be at the forefront of the growing English whisky market. More information at: https://witchmark.co.uk/pages/witchmark-club, contact Jon Caron: jon.carson@wiltshiredistilling.com or telephone: 07887 847057.

Georgie Porgies Puddings celebrates 30 years in business!

From divine traditional puddings to irresistible steamed sponges, Georgie Porgies Puddings was a huge hit with customers at this year’s Source Trade Show 2024.

Excitable, hungry visitors gathered at Stand L3 where Georgie Porgies Puddings had on display its delectable range of puddings that have been meticulously crafted to deliver a symphony of flavours in every mouthful!

Whether you’re a chocolate connoisseur, a fruit fanatic, or a lover of classic creamy delights, Georgie Porgies Puddings has something to satisfy every craving. The Traditional pudding range includes flavours such as Scrumptious Apple & Cider and Decadent Chocolate Orange & Baileys.

The Taste Sensation range has two portion sizes of steamed sponges to choose from: square or round. Some flavours include Lemon Curd, Sticky Toffee, and Spotted Dick, and come available in 8, 12 and 24 portioned gift boxes. There are also Gluten-Free options available.

Handmade in Devon, Georgie Porgies Puddings was established by George Hollywood in 1994. The company is always actively seeking trade partners to sell its puddings and sponges. Whether you’re a farm shop, delicatessen or restaurant, these fantastic puddings would be a great addition to any dessert menu. Offering a fully supported point of sale back-up service, Georgie Porgies Puddings would love to hear from you.

For more information, please see below:

T 01395 446283

https://georgieporgiespuddings.co.uk/trade-customers

Your partner in coffee

At The Source Trade Show 2024, Southwest Coffee Co captivated attendees and potential partners with its innovative blends, sustainable sourcing practices, and range of coffee machines. The company’s booth served as a hub of activity, where visitors had the opportunity to sample signature blends and engage with knowledgeable and enthusiastic members of the SWCC team.

Southwest Coffee Co proudly supplies wholesale coffee and machines to business across Devon, Cornwall and the Southwest region. Partnering with SWCC provides you with a uniquely tailored wholesale service that results in exceptional coffee experiences for your customers.

With a focus on quality, sustainability, and innovation, its top-selling coffee, The SUNDAY-COLLAB Greenroom blend is Rainforest Certified Alliance Certified and supports

both Surfers Against Sewage and Surfrider Foundation Europe.

SWCC also offer a range of coffee machines from 2 group compact machines suitable for tight spaces and low volumes all the way through to 3 or 4 group machines for high volume busy café sites, and bean to cup models. All are available with a range of leasing options. Its in-house engineering team is on hand for all maintenance enquiries and also offer free inspections and service to new customers.

SWCC offer training programmes for your team, a design service to ensure efficient workflow of your coffee service, annual service and health checks, as well as a full range of ancillary items for your hot drinks service.

For wholesale enquiries and partnership opportunities, please see below: T 07776 184141 murray@swcoffeeco.com https://swcoffeeco.com

Handmade Gourmet Cookies and Baked Treats

No More Lids: The UK home of the Good Cup

Here at Willow & Finch, we specialise in handmade gourmet cookies. We’re real foodies – working passionately to perfect our recipes. Our cookies are just how gourmet cookies should be: chunky, soft in the centre and crisp on the outside. We use quality ingredients: real butter, local free-range eggs, real vanilla and Belgian chocolate. You can really taste it!

With over 12 flavours in our standard range and limited-edition gourmet cookies launched every season, there’s always something new on the horizon. This month, we’ve launched our Limited-Edition Spring Cookies, which are bursting with fresh flavour. Hello, sunshine!

St Clements: A creamy cookie with fresh orange and lemon zest for citrus zing.

Apricot & Coconut: A fragrant coconut cookie with tangy apricot pieces and Belgian white chocolate.

All our products are freshly baked to order and shipped the same day using a next day courier.

Our gourmet cookies and cakes are available wholesale for coffee shops, farm shops, delis and other food outlets around the UK. If you serve good coffee, you should serve good cookies! No minimum order and shipping is free on orders over £100. If you’re interested in working with us, please email: hello@willow-finch.co.uk or visit: www.willow-finch.co.uk

No More Lids is bringing a truly unique cup to the UK and it has the potential to change the face of the hospitality industry and offers a real solution to the single use plastic coffee cup crisis. The Good Cup has a unique integrated folding lid making a spill proof seal and taking away the need for those pesky separate lids that often split or don’t fit! The cup has no plastic lining and is fully compostable at home or industrially and it can even just be recycled as paper with no special collection or treatment needed. Chris, Managing Director of No More Lids, has worked in the hospitality industry all his life, “I was very aware of the volumes of single use plastic waste first hand and knew there had to be a solution out there, I then come across Cyril the creator of the Good Cup and his incredible product and knew this could be a real solution!” The cup takes up 40% less space than cup and lids and is also comparable in price making it accessible to any business from independence to national chains. It truly is a Good Cup!

T +44 (0)1579 550737

www.nomorelids.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ nomorelidsuk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nomorelids

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ nomorelidsuk

HS French Flint Ltd: The Glass Container Specialists

HS French Flint Ltd, also known as ‘The Glass Container Specialists,’ are based in Central London, near Borough Market, and in North Lincolnshire. They stock all kinds of containers and closures in box and pallet quantities and truly excel in supplying innovative and decorative jars and bottles to Artisan producers, Delicatessens and Speciality Food Producers.

Their range includes everything from swingstoppered bottles to Craft Beer Growlers, including preserving jars and glass-stoppered, cork-mouth, twist-off and screw-neck bottles and jars of all sizes.

They also supply crystal glassware and bar equipment to the restaurant and hospitality trades and their subsidiary company, Portuguese Cork Supplies, specialises in importing traditional cork closures.

During 2024, HS French Flint are exhibiting at the Source Show in Exeter and Farm Shop & Deli Show at the NEC in Birmingham as well as celebrating their bicentenary!!

To find out more, visit their website at: www.hsfrenchflint.co.uk stop by their showrooms or call Sales on: 0207 237 1750.

THE SOURCE TRADE SHOW REVIEW

Baked to Taste showcases glutenfree delights at The Source Trade Show

Baked to Taste, the UK’s leading, SALSA accredited, gluten-free bakery showcased their amazing ranges of savoury pies, pasties, and sweet cakes at The Source Trade Show last month. The event, held in February 2024 at Westpoint, Exeter is renowned as one of the southwest’s premier food and drink trade exhibitions.

Visitors to The Source were able to sample firsthand the love and dedication that Baked to Taste puts into every bake with many commenting that they gluten-free could taste just as good as gluten-full! Vegetarian and vegan offerings such as the Ruby Murray Veggie Curry Pasty and Mushroom Stroganott pie also proved big hits with many attendees as they are suitable for everyone, regardless of dietary preference.

“We were thrilled to participate in The Source Trade Show and to share our passion for glutenfree baking with attendees,” said Simon BryonEdmond, Owner & Director at Baked to Taste. “Our SALSA accreditation and commitment to quality ensures that every bite of our products is a moment of pure enjoyment, without the gluten.”

For more information about Baked to Taste and their range of amazing gluten-free products, please visit: www.bakedtotaste.co.uk

Award-Winning Marmalade

When seeking award-winning marmalade it is often a good idea to explore local markets and speciality shops. However, if you research reviews and accolades from food competitions and events, you’ll see The Proper Marmalade Company crop up time and time again.

Handmade in small batches in Devon using 100% fresh fruit, The Proper Marmalade Company boasts a fruitful and attractive track record of awards. From ‘Taste of the West’ to the ‘World Marmalade Awards,’ where they have recently won 2024 Double Gold for their Lemon & Horseradish, Gold for Blood Orange, and Silver & Bronze Awards for many of their other varieties.

Achieving success at The Source Trade Show 2024, The Proper Marmalade Company – located at stand L10, was inundated with customers buzzing to try its devilishly tasteful range of marmalades.

Split into two distinctive ranges, Proper Marmalade consists of more traditional flavours. Some of which include Seville Orange, Tawny Seville, Lemon and Lime, St. Clements, Pink Grapefruit. Improper Marmalade will bring out your quirkier side with flavours such as Blood Orange & Black Pepper, Pink Gin, Gin & Tonic, Hot Orange. There really is a flavour for everyone to enjoy!

For more information on how to get your hands on some Paddington approved marmalade, please see below:

T 01271 864833

info@thepropermarmaladecompany.co.uk

https://www.thepropermarmaladecompany.co.uk

UK Hot Sauce Emporium

Get ready to spice up your menu with www. somelikeithot.

shop! We're here to invigorate the UK hospitality scene with our exclusive collection of imported and specialty condiments. Perfect for culinary maestros and retail innovators alike, our products come in both catering and retail sizes, allowing you to enhance your menus and tap into the hot sauce craze.

Our range is as varied as it is vibrant, featuring everything from smoky chipotle to tangy wasabi.

Want to make your venue the talk of the town?

Our bold bottle designs let customers bring the heat home, turning your establishment into a hot sauce hotspot.

And that's not all! At www.somelikeithot.shop, we offer consultancy to create bespoke condiments for your venue, ensuring your menu stands out. Plus, partner with us for unforgettable tasting events and hot sauce challenges that will leave your guests thrilled and enthralled. Call us for more spicy ideas on: 0330 043 6231.

Discover the taste of Portugal with 79 North Ltd

Aspecialist importer of Portuguese wine since 2016, based in Berkshire, England. Our portfolio comprised of 28 exclusive wines, is presented by three small family-owned vineyards. These are within the Vinho Verde, Setúbal Peninsula, and Alentejo wine regions of Portugal.

Portugal is home to over 250 indigenous grape varieties grown in 14 unique regions. 79 North are on a mission to unearth the country’s best-kept secrets. Join us and explore Portugal’s finest wines.

Whilst supplying some of the very best hotels, restaurants, and independent wine stores within the UK, we invite you to be a part of our ongoing journey. With our growers committed to respecting and nurturing the earth that feeds their vines, to 79 North delivering the perfect bottle on time, you can depend on us to help fulfil your commitment to your customer.

Join us today! See our small, though perfectly formed wine list at: www.seventy9north.co.uk & with free delivery (to UK mainland) plus no minimum order value, make 79 North Ltd your next call on: 07846 547968 and speak to Kevin.

SumUp: Enhancing the customer experience

There has been an explosion in new businesses since the pandemic across the UK: Legal & General reported that 770,000 new UK businesses were created in 2020 alone.

From traditional cider fermented in Somerset orchards, food trucks, independent eateries and food outlets, the country is seeing exciting SME growth across the food and drink sector. When these businesses are looking at the next stage of growth, having access to a comprehensive Quick Service Package allows for a more streamlined customer experience.

SumUp is the market-leading, global FinTech supporting businesses with a portfolio of products, including card readers, point of sale solutions, self-service kiosks, Tap to Pay on iPhone, business accounts, invoices, payment links and online stores.

Established in 2012, SumUp has developed a road-tested toolkit that allows customers to receive payments quickly and seamlessly in-store and remotely and is the subject of our extended payment and technology feature.

Focused on helping independent businesses fasttrack growth, SumUp offers cost-effective products and optimised support with customer relations and financial monitoring. With an impressive track record, four million businesses have already signed up to SumUp, utilising one or more of the product portfolios to scale new heights in consumer sales and streamline customer experience.

The secrets to the success of the Quick Service Package restaurants are the following:

● Minimised wait time, with the order automatically forwarded to the kitchen display

● Streamlined orders allow staff to start working on orders instantly

● High-resolution images show the public what the food/drink orders look like on the kiosk: so they know exactly what they’re getting.

● Customers can easily browse, with clear labelling for dietary needs/allergies

● Secure payment is taken right away and takes just seconds

● Sold-out items are displayed straight on the Kiosk: Queueing customers would not have this prior knowledge and have to resort to a secondary choice under pressure with shortened lunch breaks, customers can order quickly and enjoy a meal.

“We embrace design-inclusivity, with our accessibility mode allowing users with disabilities to place orders on the kiosk easily. The tablet is configurable with adjustable displays. We live in a global world with multiple languages and customers can select a preferred language to order food items, embracing the diverse audience of customers.”

“Furthermore, we know some of our customers are worried about power outages/blackouts and for added reassurance, all transactions pre-blackout are automatically recorded,” explained Corin Camenisch: Product Marketing Lead for SumUp.

Designed for today’s busy restaurant staff, the kiosk allows customers to place orders and make payments themselves, while staff can focus on other tasks and make changes to the menu in just a few clicks.

That’s not all. Point of Sale Pro is SumUp’s most extensive cutting-edge POS solution yet and is the central hub within this indispensable package. Analytics are at the heart of all emerging and established businesses, and the POS system goes further by providing data insights and reports, allowing restaurant owners to see consumer spending patterns and opportunities instantly. With seamless integration to Uber Eats, Deliveroo, QuickBooks and Xero, the Point-of-Sale Pro provides everything in one place.

SumUp has proven in a short space of time that they are a true market disrupter with the Quick service Package improving the flow of quick-service venues and what’s more, payments via SumUp card readers, get charged reduced transaction fees of 0.99%. What’s not to like?

“We help customers get up and running as quickly as possible, with an easy step-by-step set-up, ready for valuable customer interactions with a competitive fixed fee per transaction that will never be raised.”

To sign up for the quick-service package, phone the in-house sales team at: T +44 (0)20 3936 1981

Or see the link below: www.sumup.co.uk/qsr

Transforming Business Leadership: The origin and approach of The Engine Room with Co-Founder Mike Lucy

If you have ever eaten at one of London’s many cultural institutes, the chances are you will have been hosted by the hospitality company, Company of Cooks, the brain child of former CEO, founder and owner, Mike Lucy. Mike’s former company (merged with CH&Co in 2019) served up food & drink throughout the likes of The Southbank Centre, Royal Opera House, Royal Academy of Arts, National Portrait Gallery, Regents Park and Chiswick House.

We had the opportunity to catch up with Mike on how he transformed Company of Cooks into a multimillion-pound business and why he has now turned his attention to using that experience in cofounding The Engine Room. He believes The Engine Room approach is a big part of what drove his success, and now feels this approach can offer a real solution for all hospitality businesses to not only survive but really thrive.

How do we keep evolving amidst industry challenges and risk aversion? Recognising our limitations, seeking external expertise, like consultants, becomes crucial. However, implementing their advice effectively is key. Sometimes, despite awareness, resource constraints hinder significant change. The Engine Room’s existence came from the simple question, ‘What if there is another way?’

Mike is one of those heavyweights whose advice goes a long way. When you get the chance to speak to Mike

his experience is palpable and his words are powerful. And through the peaks and troughs on his journey to success he has honed an effective strategy that he sees as entirely translatable for others.

Mike shared, “…fundamentally the one thing we got really right, where others may not have, was getting quality and profitability both right most of the time.” This formed the pivotal principle that profoundly accelerated the company’s growth and led to a sustainable business model that was fed by financial and reputational success. Mike knows you can obsess over profitability or you can double down on quality, but without a balance between the two there is no longevity. “The only way we [CoC] managed the balance of the two was with what we refer to as our brain, which we called The Engine Room.”

There were many variations and iterations of the company that predated and informed one quite radical decision. He said, “I completely separated the commercial team from finance which was a painful process.” Mike added, “Culture needs to surround finance to make it work for us not at us.” This division created a commercial team that he referred to as The Engine Room. Recognising the weight of commercial management creates a situation where you are “…doing things that make you grow not at the expense of making money.”

Mike explains, “There is a brain required in every successful business. That brain, much like the human brain, is something that connects all the parts and processes the information. It sends out signals, receives signals, and, in effect, passively advises the being on what it should be doing – whether it’s severely cold or there is a significant threat – and how best to act to protect that being. Whatever the business entity, if it

really wants to thrive, it needs some form of brain or engine room.”

The result, “You get confidence from accurate performance data. I could put my own thoughts and personal attention to what matters most: partner relationships for example.” This strategy enables prioritisation. It provides an unwavering perspective of your business at any given moment. This presents an opportunity to remain a dynamic leader, equipped to make profound long-term decisions crucial for personal growth, team development, and business expansion.

As this was one of the most potent tools within his own business, Mike established a business model based on this element with one of his Commercial Directors Andrew Lovell and after some experimentation, launched a company in 2021. The point was to make it widely available for businesses of all sizes to benefit and achieve growth. As our partners will testify, this is exactly what it has begun to do.

“The opportunity for The Engine Room is to be that brain for other hospitality businesses.” It is a ‘thoughtful processor.’ One that integrates and processes data against the plan and offers experienceled, effective and empathetic actions. As Mike says, “There is nothing worse than going into your daily business with worries about either quality or profitability and the chances of fixing decrease as the stubborn problem stays.” If you sort out the engine of the business, bring balance to profitability and quality with The Engine Room, you regain your freedom to play on top, take risks and innovate.

T 020 3960 5137

enquiries@the-engineroom.co.uk

www.the-engineroom.co.uk

Cheers to sustainable packaging

It’s easy to spot a great gift and packaging wholesale supplier. It’s often the company everyone is openly talking about. We’re talking style and substance though. In these times of sustainability and circular economy, it’s not enough to have recycling mantras or know your scope 2 from your scope 3 emissions, green thinking needs to be the modus operandi and centrepiece.

You might think you know WBC: One of the UK’s leading wholesale distribution companies, specialising in gift packaging, retail display and customised printed bags to the food and drink sector.

But think again.

WBC could be described as leading purveyors of eco-friendly, practical, elegant packaging. Imagine if Danish hygge was packaging, merged with rustic simplicity. From drinks packaging, protective packaging, gift packaging, shred & wrap, barware, retail displays & supplies, retail furniture, fabric bags, printed fabric bags, to bespoke orders, WBC has it all and with its intrinsic focus on greenthinking best practice, it is the focus of Food & Drink Matter’s sustainability and packaging feature.

Let’s go back to the beginning for a moment. The backstory for WBC is humble and shows great tenacity from founders Tim Wilkinson and Andrew

Wilson. Thirty years ago, Tim and Andrew were interested in starting a business in wine packaging. After approaching several banks, they kept getting knockbacks until finally The Prince’s Youth Business Trust (now known as the Prince’s Trust) said ‘yes’ and awarded a £5,000 business loan. The rest as they say, is history.

Today, WBC has grown exponentially to become one of the UK’s leading wholesale supplier of quality packaging, display solutions & fabric bags, specifically designed with the ‘Food & Drink’ market in mind: wine merchants, specialist delicatessens, small batch breweries, fine distilleries, artisan bakers, luxury gifting companies, vineyards, cafes, farm shops, contract caterers and many more.

With over 1,600 products on offer, which are held in stock and are available on a next day delivery, WBC has a loyal customer base from independent cottage industries to global high-profile names like Harrods and Fortnum & Mason. For those businesses that wish to customise their product, WBC offers a printing service, allowing businesses to add their name, message or any design they wish. For emerging and more established companies focused on branding, WBC offers a customised packaging service, supported by account makers and in-house design team.

We caught up with WBC’s Commercial Director Eve Reid to find out what makes the company tick, “Today we employ nearly fifty staff (depending on the time of the year) which includes twelve different nationalities: collectively totalling eight separate languages spoken. We pride ourselves on our inclusive, diverse work culture: 42% of our workforce is female and we naturally attract younger, dynamic employees. 75% of us have been with the company for more than five years, which speaks volumes but we’re not resting on our laurels.”

“The ability to safely deliver products to customers is essential to pretty much any business nowadays. Poorly packaged products leads to breakages, cost and most importantly reputation. With WBC’s packaging solutions to suit every budget and

packaging and gifting made simple

protection level, it’s our priority to help you send your products with confidence.”

Naturally as a packaging and display supplier, WBC has been ahead of the curve and pledged over ten years ago to be carbon-neutral by 2030. With hard work and strategic planning, WBC is delighted to announce that following a recent external audit, they are very close to being a Carbon Neutral company, six years earlier than planned.

“We are constantly looking for ways to ‘sustainably optimise’ our products, buying responsibly and making sure that our products and services are as sustainable as possible, with the lowest environmental impact and most positive social results.”

“Our Pulpsafe transit boxes are a great example of this. Made from off-cuts and waste from cardboard

production and some excess newsprint, pulpsafe packaging is recyclable, compostable and presents the ideal biodegradable bottle packaging solution. We also have DPD’s thumbs-up validating it as offering the highest levels of protection for shipping bottles.”

“Some of our counter top & furniture pieces are made from Mango wood: a great material, highly sustainable due to its cultivation as a fruit tree, Mango wood prevents waste and makes beautiful, yet durable products,” explained Eve.

Other notable eco-friendly alternatives to plastic products include:

● Honeycomb Bottle Sleeves & Wrap: 100% recyclable, biodegradable and food safe.

● Can Ring Holders made from Pulp: Made from sustainable sugarcane pulp: 100% recyclable and 100% compostable.

● Paper Pull Bows & Wide Paper Ribbon: Made entirely from paper: a great alternative to plastic gifting. Even the packaging is biodegradable.

WBC are committed to being carbon neutral, and have nearly achieved this through several initiatives including committing to its own Forestry Project. For every order placed over £150, WBC plants a single tree. Over the last four years, this has amounted to 33,000 Maritime Pine trees, over 61 acres of land in the Bordeaux region of France.

For WBC, sustainability goes hand in hand with taking care of the environment, staff, suppliers and customers. Since 2002, WBC has been a big player in fabric bags and has always been looking for innovative ways to work more sustainably in this sector. One great example of this is the handmade fabric bag range approved by SEDEX partners in India. The bags are made using a range of natural fibres and are ethically produced to the highest standards. One stand-out project is a social business venture (Cocobagh) in West Bengal working with marginalised, local widows. Through training, these women gain access to valuable employment opportunities, which provides the chance to send their children to school. These widows would otherwise be culturally ostracised and not receive opportunities to work and provide for their families.

“Looking to the future, we have just set up distribution centre in Ireland so that we can reestablish our old routes and serve Ireland as we did pre-Brexit. We have some new furniture pieces available for sale soon, designed for the hospitality market. Once we achieve carbon-neutral status, we will manoeuvre to become climate-positive in the years to come,” concluded Eve.

WBC will be at the following 2024 food & drink events:

Farm Shop & Deli Expo: 29th April-1st May 2024: NEC, Birmingham, Stand G190

Specialty & Fine Food Fair: 10th-11th September 2024, Olympia, London, Stand 1201

https://www.wbc.co.uk

Making Lite work of product coding with our cost-effective, standalone systems

Applying batch and/or date codes manually is a laborious and time-consuming process, yet it is still suprisingly commonplace. Even in larger organisations, where it seems as though automation is at the forefront of their production process, you will sometimes find a team dedicated to hand applying variable information onto packs.

Why date code by hand?

Coding is usually done manually for one of the following reasons:

The pack is difficult to code on the main production line

This is often the case with sleeves. When placed around the tray or tub, the sleeve can move around, making accurate code placement tricky.

Pouches can also be difficult to print when filled. The desired print area can often be uneven or problematic to reach, again making consistent coding a near impossible task.

The company is young

When a B2C business starts out, they will usually be producing in very small batches. Coding by hand is therefore an economical process, suitable for

companies at this stage of their life as volumes are small.

For seasonal or special edition packaging

Limited edition packaging will often be coded off-line, as to not disrupt the main line. Unless the company has a standalone coding system, applying the codes by hand is the only option.

Challenges of manual coding

‘It takes ages,’ ‘it’s not sustainable with our growth’ and ‘we end up with so many misprints.’

These are just a few reasons that our customers have cited when asked why they are looking for a solution to date or batch code their packaging automatically. Other factors include the cost of labour, coding errors and not being able to keep up with production.

The solution

Rotech’s RF Lite standalone coding systems are designed to make light work of date and batch coding. Users can simply stack flat-form packaging, such as sleeves and cartons into the hopper, press a button and watch as the packs are individually fed under a thermal inkjet (TIJ) printer where they are consistently printed with a high-quality code.

What’s more, the user-friendly systems can be easily adjusted to run different products, so one machine can serve multiple lines.

Contact T +44 (0)1707 393700 sales@rotechmachines.com https://rotechmachines.com

Crafting exceptional coffee

200 Degrees Coffee are passionate about one thing: crafting exceptional coffee experiences that delight the senses and elevate the everyday. Founded in Nottingham, UK, in 2012, their journey began with a simple mission – to roast and serve the finest coffee beans with unwavering dedication to quality, sustainability, and authenticity.

What sets 200 Degrees Coffee apart is their commitment to excellence at every step of the coffee journey. From sourcing the finest beans from around the world, to carefully roasting them at 200° Centigrade in small batches to unlock their full flavour potential, they take pride in every aspect of their craft. Their skilled baristas (a.k.a proud coffee geeks) then expertly brew each cup of coffee to perfection, ensuring that every sip of the full bodies, smooth taste, is a moment to savour. With the taste and product perfected, their packaging had a lot to live up to.

Not just the external covering of your product, packaging is the true essence of your brand, the first customer touchpoint, and the protective barrier to keep its contents and consumers safe. After speaking with our team here at National Flexible, we worked together to produce a printed gusseted bag for the retail packs which they supply to their baristas. The 12PET/12MET/60PE film has two colours and a matt varnish, giving the packaging clear, shelf appeal presence.

every cup tells a story, and every moment is an opportunity to savour the extraordinary.

200 Degrees Coffee needed their packaging to keep their product as safe and fresh as possible so together, we produced a pre-made valve, providing a clever system for expelling gasses and keeping the coffee super fresh. So not only does the coffee taste perfect, but the packaging also looks perfect too!

Whether you’re a seasoned coffee connoisseur or just beginning your coffee journey, we urge you to try their delicious coffee – where

If you would like assistance in finding the right packaging for your product, our team can help. From protection and safety to attractiveness and usability, there are so many different factors to consider when looking for your perfect packaging, it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why our team are on hand to guide and support you through your packaging needs.

Contact: marketing@nationalflexible.net or call our team on: 01274 685566.

Introducing Wow Cacao: The new way to rehydrate

New hydrating drink to hit the market with a storm

You’ll be sure to be wowed by the new Super drink

– Wow Cacao. It’s Super on so many levels… Super tasty, Super hydrating, Super healthy and Super sustainable too. But the best bit? It’s made from the Cacao fruit, where we get the beans for making chocolate.

Each bottle of Wow Cacao is full of Superpowers including the juice of at least nine Cacao pods which give a fruity taste, naturally hydrating electrolytes (essential minerals) and packed with antioxidants (vital for disease protection) with no added flavours, sugars, or sweeteners –this really is a gift from the gods.

If you didn’t already know, the Cacao fruit is an ancient and sacred superfood, dating back more than 5,000 years ago when civilization in South America began collecting and fermenting the precious pulp from the Cacao plant to create an alcoholic beverage. Used in rituals, ceremonies

and sacrifices as an offering to the Gods, it was considered a super nutritional elixir that bridged the gap with the afterlife. Scientists named the plant Theobroma – meaning ‘Food of the Gods’ (Greek).

For the first time in the UK, a drink has been created based on this superfruit: All Hail Wow Cacao!

Heavenly sent, Wow Cacao does you, cacao farmers and the world good –founded by the gods, and drunk by humans, it guarantees a halo effect for all. www.drinkwowcacao.com

Volkmann, your number one partner of choice in food processing

In its early years, Volkmann was well-known for its involvement with applications within vacuum technology. Today, Volkmann offers a multitude of services for the Chemical, Food Processing and Pharmaceutical Industries

In this feature, we are going to hone in on the company’s involvement within the Food Processing sector.

Volkmann’s contribution to the food industry lies in its ability to provide reliable, hygienic, and efficient material handling solutions that enhance the safety, productivity, and quality of food manufacturing processes. Thanks to its professional and creative team, Volkmann consistently produces new and better solutions for itself and its customers which can be manufactured using the company’s modern machinery and lean manufacturing principles.

Volkmann’s crucial role is highlighted through its expertise in providing innovative material handling solutions for the food industry. As specialists in the design and manufacture of pneumatic vacuum conveyors and systems, of which are vital for the safe and efficient transfer of food powders, granules, and other bulk materials throughout various stages of

food processing, these systems can be used for anything from handling raw ingredients to final packaging.

Volkmann can work with you to create safer processes, increased productivity and efficiency through its material transfer from its hygienic and sanitary systems that involves few mechanical contact parts combined with its conveyors’ compact and modular design. The demand from the food market is only going to increase, and this involves meeting certain dietary requirements such as major and minor allergies, kosher and halal certified food. Volkmann can promise that all the conveyed material remains uncontaminated and pure which is why Volkmann’s Vacuum Conveyors are the preferred choice for many food-related applications.

Volkmann’s Vacuum Conveyors can transport numerous granulated bulk materials, small parts, powders and pigments under vacuum in lean and dense phases through hoses and pipes. They are easy to install and very simple to operate. By using a vacuum that is built with a focus on creating the best hygienic solutions, this system keeps any production environment clean with minimal risk of explosion due to its ATEX certified design.

The heart of any vacuum conveyor system is the vacuum conveyor. Volkmann’s modular series is available in different sizes and cover a wide performance spectrum.

The VS conveyor family fits perfectly within the requirements of the food industry due to its modular design that can be adapted for a variety of

different bulk materials from fine powdered sugar to roughly cut small pieces of ham. It is simple to use and can be disassembled without tools making cleaning and product changeover particularly user-friendly.

The VS Vacuum Conveyors can provide conveying rates from approximately 100 up to 10.000kg/h. They are purely pneumatic powered systems with failsafe controls, and there is even scope to change/add any valves, fittings, instruments or controls according to customer specifications.

Volkmann’s equipment is designed and manufactured to meet stringent industry regulations and safety standards. By choosing Volkmann, you can easily maintain regulatory compliance whilst upholding the highest safety standards. The all-new VS Conveyors are ATEX certified in accordance with directive 2014/34/EU ATEX for the installation inside Zones 1, 2, 21, and 22.

FAM STUMABO unveils Yuran™ Hytec 300 for meat and alternative protein processing

FAM STUMABO is set to revolutionise the meat and alternative protein processing industry with the launch of its latest innovation, the Yuran™ Hytec 300. Making its debut at Anuga FoodTec 2024, this high-capacity belt-fed dicer promises to redefine processing standards.

The Yuran Hytec 300 is a versatile machine engineered to dice, stripcut, and shred a diverse range of meat, poultry, and alternative protein products. This cutting-edge equipment offers enhanced processing capabilities compared to its predecessor, the Yuran™ Hytec 240.

Featuring increased capacity with a 300 mm wide conveyor belt, the Yuran Hytec 300 accommodates products with larger dimensions, enhancing feeding capacity. Its dual independent variable-speed motors enable precise adjustments to cut size and shape without requiring additional cutting tools. Quick-removable splined shafts of the cutting spindles facilitate fast changeovers, reducing downtime in production. The machine’s smart hygienic design ensures easy, thorough,

and safe cleaning, maintaining sanitation standards.

The Yuran Hytec 300 finds applications in cutting fresh, crust-frozen, tempered frozen, and (hot) cooked meat and poultry products. It excels in providing efficient and consistent shredding, making it ideal for various culinary creations including barbecue meats, salad and pizza toppings, sandwiches, and handheld snacks. The specialised cutting tools cater to the unique characteristics of extruded products, offering familiar cuts and shapes in alternative meat products.

www.fam-stumabo.com

FAM STUMABO introduces SureTec 240 featuring the SureCut Unit

FAM STUMABO has unveiled its latest innovation, the SureTec 240, featuring the SureCut Unit, at Anuga FoodTec. This robust heavyduty dicer is designed to meet the demanding needs of frozen vegetable and large fresh vegetable processors, ensuring peak production in heavyduty circumstances.

Key to the SureTec 240’s efficiency is the unique SureCut Unit (SCU) concept, which allows cutting components to be pre-assembled and adjusted away from the machine. This innovative feature enables quick and error-free installation of cutting tools by both technical and non-technical operators, ensuring cutting accuracy from the outset of every production run and maximising uptime.

The SureTec 240 offers versatility in processing a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, including softer products like mangoes, apples, and strawberries, as well as harder root vegetables such as carrots and turnips. With a large drum capable of accepting products up to 240mm in any dimension, the need for

pre-cutting is significantly reduced, streamlining the production process.

Designed for easy cleaning, the SureTec 240 features slip holes in the drum for residue removal, a rounded tube frame, and an accessible open cutting zone for quick inspection and maintenance. Durable components ensure a long service life, with features like slipper clutches and slip detection systems minimising downtime and preventing damage.

Contact www.fam-stumabo.com

FAM STUMABO launches new dicer for peppers and leafy vegetables

FAM STUMABO, a leading developer of industrial cutting machines, kicks off the new year with the introduction of Yuran Capcitec™, a high-capacity belt dicer for dicing and strip-cutting a variety of peppers and leafy vegetables.

Launched during the latest edition of Fruit Logistica, the Yuran Capcitec is engineered to meet the exacting needs of the frozen vegetable industry, which faces a tight processing window dictated by seasonal variations. The new dicer addresses this challenge by offering unparalleled reliability and durability, ensuring minimal downtime and maximum productivity.

Featuring a wider feed belt and optimised feeding method, the Yuran Capcitec delivers at least 30% extra feeding capacity compared to previous models. Its newly designed driven top belt guarantees precise product transfer and optimal guidance towards the cutting tools, resulting in superior cut quality and reduced product fracturing. The machine is engineered for costefficiency, with durable components that minimise maintenance expenses and downtime. Its splined shaft system facilitates easy tool conversion,

enhancing inspection and cleaning processes.

The Yuran Capcitec is suitable for peppers and leafy-type green vegetables, like bell peppers or capsicum, capia, jalapeño and chili peppers, as well as raw or blanched greens such as spinach, radish, kale, cabbage, and mustard leaves. Other popular products are raw or brined citrus peel and a variety of herbs such as parsley.

www.fam-stumabo.com

Ice Cream & Artisan Food Show 2024

Not even snow could stop the buzz surrounding this year’s Ice Cream & Artisan Food Show at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate from the 6th-8th February. Before the snow could melt outside, visitors and exhibitors were assured of a friendly Nork Yorkshire welcome at this dedicated ice cream & artisan food expo.

Over 2,500 trade industry professionals attended this calendar event to source new and exciting brands, listen to industry talks and congratulate the winners at the National Ice Cream Competition. The event is run by the Ice Cream Alliance: a specialist trade association with a history spanning 76 years and attracted industry big players from Whitby Morrison, Antonelli and Froneri. From Italian-style gelato, sundaes, to traditional whipped cream cones, there was an ice cream for everyone.

It should come as no surprise that the ice cream sector is valued at £1.7 billion and with ice cream parlours seeing an annual 20% growth, it seems that the UK public just can’t get enough of ice cream.

Gastro-physicist Józef Youssef revealed the ‘Happy Science’ behind ice creams: the protein found in milk (tryptophan) can aid dopamine production and increase serotonin, as well as invoking nostalgia of happy childhood memories. Seven in ten adults freely state that ice cream is their favourite dessert and with this mind, entrepreneurs from across the sector descended on the Ice Cream & Artisan Food Show to share tactics, sign books and perform live demos.

The expo is perfectly timed, just before the start of the busy ice cream season and allows key decision makers and buyers to meet exciting new suppliers. The average order placed at the show is £3,200 and gives newcomers the opportunity to break into an exciting new sector.

Here at Food & Drink Matters, we’re huge ice cream fans and took the opportunity to select our own Top Exhibitors at this year’s show:

1) Royal Conversions Specialist Vehicles: The Doncasterbased company makes fully-operational beautiful, customised ice cream and catering vans, complete with livery, new windows, interior shelves, installed gelmatics for perfect ice cream, new windows and even air con on the roof for hot summer days! The hard-working team parked their ice cream at the show, complete with their own golden crown to show off their perfect ‘Royal Conversions!’ https://www.facebook.com/people/ ROYAL-Conversion/100063629645695

2) Nic Ice: As part of the Orkla Group, NIC has a large network of food, drink and packaging suppliers across Europe and further afield. NIC is a marketleading developer and innovator across three top brands: Caterlink, Gortrush and Marcantonio.

Discover an exciting range of ice cream cones, wafers, soft serve ice cream, ice cream machinery, toppings, sauces, sprinkles through to packaging.

https://www.nicice.co.uk/en-gb

3) Peppered Palette Ltd: The Lancaster family-owned business lovingly supplies a unique line of sweet and spicy sauces. The original Toad Sweat hot dessert sauce was used as an ice cream topper to start with but has now diversified into savoury dishes too. The Guild of Fine Food Member was a huge hit at this year’s show, with visitors loving the gluten-free, vegan-friendly, natural ingredients of flavours such as: Kickin’ Key Lime, and Zingin’ Cranberry.

https://www.pepperedpalette.com

Congratulations to all our Top Exhibitors and a special mention to Antonelli, whose chairman Roland Antonelli won the Lifetime Achievement Award for dedicated service to the ice cream industry.

https://ice-cream.org/ ice-cream-and-artisan-food-show

Have you booked your conversion?

Transforming dreams into mobile reality, Royal Conversions Specialist Vehicles specialises in turning ordinary vans into delightful, mobile ice cream parlours or mobile catering.

This is a fantastic opportunity for budding entrepreneurs or ice cream enthusiasts looking to spread the joy of food on wheels!

Royal Conversion offer expert craftmanship and immaculate attention to detail and you won’t believe some of the conversions they have done! Think eye-catching, fully equipped, colourful attention-grabbing vans that used to just be old, plain and boring.

Royal Conversion offers a service that represents the fusion of its own craftsmanship and culinary delight. Behind every ice cream or catering van conversion is a team of well-experienced, creative and innovative geniuses that truly understand what it means to bring vans to life.

Royal Conversion is extremely committed to the quality, safety and compliance of its vehicles. With every conversion adhering to the highest industry standards and regulations, the company ensures that every ice cream or catering van is not just a treat for the eyes but also a safe and reliable mobile business.

With the rising popularity of food trucks and mobile catering, these vans offer a fantastic business opportunity for entrepreneurs seeking a unique and profitable venture. For more information, please see below.

T 07885 207599

rcspecialistvehicles@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=100063629645695&sk=about

Discover the power of Gellert Freeze Dryers for reliable and scalable food production

Are you a food manufacturer searching for a dependable and scalable freeze drying solution for regulated food production? Look no further than Gellert freeze dryers from Biopharma Group! In a rapidly growing freeze-dried product market, both manufacturers and consumers are recognising the exceptional benefits of this process. By minimising or eliminating the need for cold chain handling, Gellert freeze dryers can significantly reduce transportation and storage costs. Moreover, the lightweight nature of freeze-dried material compared to frozen or refrigerated products further contributes to cost savings. But that’s not all – freeze-dried products not only require less energy and cost to store, they also retain the biological benefits and flavours of the raw ingredients, whilst extending their shelf life.

Gellert freeze dryers provide a controlled and repeatable method of in-situ freeze drying directly on the shelves. This ensures that the product maintains its shape, structure, and nutritional value throughout the process. Gellert understands the importance of scalability, user requirements, and operational ease, which is why they have developed a range of freeze dryers that are versatile and highly sought-after in the industry.

One of the standout features of Gellert equipment is AutoDry. This intuitive feature allows users to input their desired temperature differential between the product, sample, and shelves. The AutoDry feedback mechanism then optimises the drying cycles to achieve the optimised results. Additionally, Gellert freeze dryers offer the option to construct the chamber, condenser, shelves, and shelf stack from 316L stainless steel for maximum product contact. For larger equipment, a hybrid cooling system is available, utilising defrosted water by re-heating it through the freeze dryer compressors, thereby saving both energy and costs.

Gellert freeze dryers find their applications in a wide range of industries, including:

● Smart Foods: Explore the possibilities of freeze-dried supplements and nutraceuticals.

● Food and Beverages: Enhance the quality and flavour of food and beverage products.

● Dairy Products: Preserve the freshness and nutritional content of dairy products, ensuring they remain at their best for extended periods.

● Fruits and Vegetables: Retain the natural colours, flavours, and nutrients of fruits and vegetables, delivering a farm-fresh experience year-round.

● Pet Food and Pet Treats: Provide pets with premium freeze-dried nutrition.

Rest assured, all Gellert systems are manufactured in Europe and strictly adhere to compliance regulations such as F-gas. When it comes to distributing Gellert freeze dryers across the UK, Ireland, and France, Biopharma Group is your exclusive contact. Both Biopharma Group and Gellert are highly respected and renowned companies, with a wealth of experience in the lyophilisation industry. This winning collaboration empowers the Biopharma Group team to assist you in selecting the ideal freeze dryer to meet your specific needs. Gellert’s extensive practical experience and in-house expertise have enabled them to develop a wide range of models and configurations, catering to diverse food production requirements.

To learn more about Gellert freeze dryers and discuss your unique requirements, reach out to Biopharma Group’s knowledgeable product specialists. Unlock the potential of freeze-dried food production with Biopharma Group.

Contact

T +44 (0)1962

841092

bps@biopharma.co.uk

https://biopharma.co.uk

Cleaning & Facilities

Commercial cleaning and facilities services across the UK

0161 972 3000 info@floorbrite.co.uk www.floorbrite.co.uk

Measurement Solutions

Trade Marks

Catering Consultancy Foodservice Consultants

MACKLE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Bulk supplies for Food Manufacturers

BRITISH MADE APPLE CIDER

VINEGAR USING BRITISH APPLES

No sulphur or additives used with acidity levels to suit your requirements

Brewed in our own BRC approved factory

PACKED IN 25 AND 1000 LITRE CONTAINERS or Full Road Tankers

Buy Direct from manufacturer

Deliver anywhere in the UK

Tel 02887 784345 or email

anthony.conroy@mackleapple.com Halal Foods Ingredients Beverages

Cannabis Tea

Discover our range of cannabis products grown on certified organic farms

Balance the Body, Calm the Mind

Purchase online or find a stockist near you www.bodyandmindbotanicals.com

Personalised bespoke packaging solutions for a range of speciality food sectors: Confectionery, Dairy, Bakery, Delicatessen & Fish

Get in touch 01606 354664 sales@bartecpackaging.co.uk www.bartecpackaging.co.uk

Machines for Food

Uniball Tumbler Mixer

Ideal for flapjack mixes and fragile products

Capacity 225 litres, 316 stainless steel drum, variable speed

The machines have been sold to clients using a range of different products as coating vegetables in oil, mixing medical powders, Bakery recipes, flapjack mix, mixing different nut types, marinating meat with sauces, mixing coffee beans, food ingredients, coating olives in flavours, flavours on nuts, pasta & mayo. Sold worldwide to USA, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Iceland and Europe. Food Packaging Packaging Machinery Packaging

UK MANUFACTURED PACKAGING MACHINERY EXCELLENCE

Turnkey Solutions | Filling, Capping Labelling

Automation | Bespoke, Special Purpose Design

Pharmaceutical | Food & Beverage | Chemical Aromatherapy | Medical | Diagnostics

Industrial | Ecig | Adhesives

To discover more, please visit www.capcoder.com • Tel 01865 891466

Water Treatment